VISIT TO GERMANY. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited Braunschweig, Germany, where she spoke at the Junge Union Forum and addressed the youth during her speech: “In every political movement, youth is very important. Don’t be afraid to engage. To speak up for the truth. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. In politics, you are learning by doing all the time. What matters is to keep going and to never give up your dream”.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya also met with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who assured the Belarusian leader that the European Union would support Belarus as long as its struggle for freedom continues. During the meeting, the Belarusian leader expressed gratitude to the head of the European Commission for the assistance and called for continued support for Belarus's European perspective.
BELARUS-LITHUANIA. On October 23, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Prime Minister of Lithuania, Ingrida Šimonytė. They discussed simplification of the legalization of stay for Belarusians in Lithuania. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya welcomed the proposal to extend the residence permit validity from one to three years and expand eligibility for obtaining foreigners’ passports. The Belarusian leader also urged the Prime Minister to keep the border open for Belarusians, maintain passenger traffic, and support the Francysk Skaryna Gymnasium and Belarusian initiatives in Lithuania.
BELARUS-LATVIA. On October 25, it was announced that the Latvian Parliament removed restrictions against Belarusian citizens from the draft law on road traffic following negotiations between Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the Latvian Prime Minister, Evika Siliņa, in Granada, as well as the meeting between representatives of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Office, Anatoli Liabedzka and Vitaly Malchanau, with the group “For a Democratic Belarus” in the Latvian Saeima (Parliament). “Now this issue is no longer on the agenda for Belarusians living in Latvia”, commented Anatoli Liabedzka, Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya for the Constitutional Reform and Interparliamentary Cooperation.
BELARUS-CANADA. On October 24, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya attended the opening of the Canadian Embassy in Vilnius. Over the past years, Canada has actively supported Belarus's civil society, the Chatham House Belarus Initiative, and has been a part of the OSCE Friends of Belarus group.
YOUTH POLICY. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Advisor on Youth Policy and Students, Marharyta Vorykhava, took part in the meeting with youth organizations organized for students of the European Humanities University (EHU). Ms. Vorykhava shared her experience working as the President of the RADA Youth Council and talked about the educational and activism opportunities that will allow students to find out more about youth organizations and their work.
RESTITUTION FOR REPRESSED INDIVIDUALS. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Office, in cooperation with Belarusian human rights organizations, NGOs, attorneys, and former lawyers, has developed a draft Concept of restitution for the victims of the regime. Over the past month, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's team has released a number of materials explaining the main provisions of the Concept. Follow the link to read more about the concept. “Thank you very much to all Belarusians for your feedback. Together with the legal department of the Office, we have already started to consider all your suggestions, remarks, and comments. We will take them into account when revising the draft Concept of restitution for the victims of the regime”, commented Kristina Rikhter, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Advisor on Legal Affairs.
The draft Concept is available in Russian and Belarusian. Belarusians can share their feedback and proposals through the Telegram bot @AskOffice_Bot, email [email protected], and the Google form.
INTERNATIONAL EVENTS. On Tuesday, October 24, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya took part in the workshop at Vilnius University “Belarus and Belarusians, 2020+: assessing prospects and challenges for the country’s democratic future”. She joined Belarusian and Lithuanian experts and politicians to discuss the situation in Belarus, as well as Belarus-Lithuania relations. “Lukashenka’s and Putin’s regime will do all possible to destroy the
Belarusian-Lithuanian friendship. We should look for what unites us and strengthen our cooperation”, emphasized Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya when addressing Lithuanians.
SOLIDARITY WITH POLITICAL PRISONERS. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited the art exhibition “Paznaka” (The Mark) at the Vilnius Belarusian Community and Culture Center, organized by former political prisoner Asya Bulybenka, one of the 12 people convicted in the “student case”. It marked the anniversary of her arrest during the March of Youth rally in Minsk in the fall of 2020. As Asya herself said, art helped her cope with imprisonment and continues to support her now that she is free.
MEMORY OF VICTIMS OF REPRESSION. On the night of October 29 to 30, 1937, the Soviet NKVD (future KGB) executed 108 Belarusian poets, writers, scientists, and cultural figures. Every year, on this night, Belarusians hold memorial events to commemorate the repressed people. This year, events took place in more than 24 cities around the world. For more details, please visit the website nochpaetau.com.
On October 29, representatives of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Office participated in events in Vilnius dedicated to the Night of Executed Poets. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya's Advisor on Education and Science, Tatiana Shchyttsova, took part in a poetry reading in Kudirka Square.
CONVERSATIONS WITH BELARUSIANS. On October 26, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, joined by Kristina Rikhter, her Advisor on Legal Affairs, held weekly personal conversations with Belarusians to discuss the issues faced by the people both in Belarus and beyond.
MEDIA. Sviatlana Tikhanovskaya gave interviews to Daily Express (the UK), Zetland (Denmark), TV8 Channel (Moldova), Moldova 1 (Moldova), Radio Unet (Belarus), BelSAT (Belarus), Manoto TV (International).
